New Israeli settlement plan in Jerusalem’s Old City

Israeli Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan has been seeking “security solutions” to build a new Israeli Jewish settlement near the Ras Al-Amoud neighbourhood in Jerusalem, Quds Press reported yesterday.

Israeli TV’s Channel 1 reported that the plan includes building hundreds of new settlement units. It cited security issues as having caused the delay.

The website reported that the proposed security solutions, including the expansion of security systems in the roads leading up to the planned settlement, are being studied.

On Sunday, Erdan and a number of Israeli police officers carried out a tour in the target area to examine the proposed security solutions, noting that he also visited the new synagogue which is due to open in the area on Thursday.

On 23 December 2016, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling on Israel to “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem…[the establishment of settlements by Israel has] no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law.”